Venezuela cuts ties with Panama, calling country a 'lackey' for the United States

By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN

Updated 0604 GMT (1404 HKT) March 6, 2014

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accuses Panama of pushing for regional organizations to intervene in Venezuela.

Story highlights

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro cuts diplomatic, political ties with Panama

He accuses Panama of conspiring against Venezuela, being a "lackey" for the United States

Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli says he wants peace and democracy for Venezuela

Venezuela's President severed diplomatic relations with Panama Wednesday, accusing the Central American nation of being a "lackey" for the United States in a conspiracy plot against his government.

"There are maneuvers by the U.S. government plotting with a lackey government that has a right-wing president who is leaving in the next few months, who is not worthy of his people, who has been working actively against Venezuela," President Nicolas Maduro said in televised remarks.

He accused Panama of pushing for regional organizations to intervene in Venezuela. As a result, Maduro said he was cutting off diplomatic and political ties and freezing trade relations with Panama's current government "in defense of the homeland's sovereignty."

In a statement late Wednesday, Panama's government denied Maduro's accusations and said it had tried to encourage action by the Organization of American States to help promote dialogue, democracy and human rights in Venezuela.

"We reject as unacceptable the insults uttered by President Nicolas Maduro against our country and its highest authority. The foul language used is inappropriate for the president of a brother country," the statement said.

The State Department has repeatedly denied Venezuela's accusations that it's funding opposition efforts to topple Maduro's government or involved in other conspiracy plots.

"Venezuela, rather than trying to distract from its own failings by making up false accusations against diplomats from the United States, the government ought to focus on addressing the legitimate grievances of the Venezuelan people," U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters last month.